Automatic charging means for centrifugal extractors



17, 1937. J, NEuMAN 2,090,373

AU'I'OIATIC CHARGING Imus FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed Oct 22. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 bmoswaumm Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC CHARGING MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Jacob J. Neuman, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application October 22, 1935, Serial No. 46,069

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to automatic charging means for centrifugal extractors, and has for its main object to provide positively acting means for automatically regulating the supply of fill-mass to the extractor. This invention is an improvement over the means disclosed in my Patent 1,921,446. The present regulating means includes the switch actuated by the accumulation of, fill-mass as there described but adds thereto an improved gate operating mechanism and additional regulating devices for varying sets of conditions in the operation of extracting the crystals.

Another object is the general simplification of the entire regulating system.

A further object is to provide a regulator systcm which automatically controls the size of the discharge opening to suit the flow of the fill- I mass.

A still further object is to provide a safety means whereby the acceleration of the extractor motor to extracting speed is prevented until the charging of the basket has stopped; also, a warning is given if the charging gate remains open beyond a predetermined time.

Further objects include a means for evenly distributing the fill-mass in the basket, means for manually adjusting .the normal opening size, means for manual release of the gate in case of failure of the closing means, and other objects which will become apparent from the following description of one specific embodiment of the device illustrated in the drawings and incorporated into the claims, it being understood that various.

85 means may be employed to attain the objects.

In the drawings wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a centrifugal extractor and charging rneans'embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the extractor motor controller.

Figure 3 is a detail fragmentary view of the lower edge of the outlet valve gate showing the gate control switch with casing partly broken away.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of the lost motion adjusting device for'the gate opening 50 showing parts in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the electrical parts of the device.

Figurefi is an elevation of a modified form of valve gate showing the release latch, and

55 Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse section of the lever arm of the modified gate structure taken through the release latch at the latch pin.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a centrifugal extractor of the type employed in refining sugar and in which the revolving basket I0 is enclosed within an outercasing ll having an inturned top flange l2 on which is mounted the switch l3. A shaft I4 extends downwardly from the switch l3 into the basket l0 and carries at its lower end the finger IS. The upper end of the shaft l4 drives the switch operating mechanism the details of which are disclosed in myaforementioned patent. The extractor basket 10 is mounted on the shaft l6 which is driven v by a motor ll through the pulleys l8, l9 and the connecting belt 20. Fill-mass is supplied to the basket Ill from a suitable hopper discharging through the outlet neck 2|. The stream of liquor and crystals discharges onto the improved spreader cone 22'mounted on the shaft; The rotating cone 22 serves to distribute the entering fill-mass in the basket and also to bring it up to the speed of the basket thereby preventing disturbance of the wall'of crystals already deposited and unequal loading of the basket. Another advantage to the use of this shaped plate is that fill-mass cannot remain on it, therefore cleaning is unnecessary. v

The outlet neck 2| is provided with a gate operated by the pneumatic cylinder 24 and piston 25 connected to the gate by the rod 26, the lost motion adjustment 21 and the eye rod 28 through the eye of which passes a hook or loop 29 fixed to the upper edge of the gate 23. The admission of air into the cylinder 24 is controlled by a system of valves to be explained below.

The extractor motor ll is controlled by a travelling bridge 30 driven by a pilot motor 3| along a screw 32. At suitable points in the path' of the travelling bridge 30 are pivotally suspended mercury switches l3 and 33 to be successively tilted by the fingers 34 of the bridge in its passage towards the slow" and of the screw 32. Switch I3 is closed in its normal hanging position andserves to energize the 'holding coil of the switch l3, for description of whichisee my copending application Serial No. 45,524,. filed Oc-' tober 10, 1935. As the extractor motor is 'retarded the bridge travels to the slow 'end of the screw 32 and the finger 34 tilts switch I3 opening it momentarily and deenergizing the holding coil 80. When the holding coil is deemergized the finger l5 swings to the position shown in Figure 1. The switch I3 is located at a position furthermost to the left of the travel arm 34 so that when the arm 34 reverses and travels to the right 'it permits the switch l3 to return to its normal position and close circuit and thereby reenergizes the holding coil 66. However, due

5 to the extent of motion of the finger control mechanism the coil has no eifect on it.

Next in its retarding direction the bridge finger 34 tilts the switch 33 from its normal open position to closed position, thereby closing the circuit through solenoid 35 swinging the 3-way valve 36 against the normal bias of the spring 31 to open the cylinder feed pipe 38 to the air feed 36.

The air supply line 39 is interrupted by the valve 46 which is controlled by the gate lifting l5 rod 26. A pair of adjustable collars 4|, 4| are clamped to the rod '26 in the desired position and spaced relation by any suitable means such as the set-screws 42. The operating stem 43 01 the valve 46 is located against the cam surface of the pivoted link 44, is normally biased open or extended by the force of a spring within the valve. The valve is closed by rotation of the link 44 about its pivot 46 on the frame 46 whereby the stem 43 is'moved inwardly against its spring. Rotation of the link 44 is accomplished by transmit tlng the movement of the gate lifting rod 26' thereto. To provide a yielding pick up of the motion of the rod 26 theflink 44 is connected between the collars 4lj'by means of springs 41 and connecting chains 46. The distance between the clamps 4| may be adjusted to leave the chains slack and so provide a lost motion take up of the link 44.

A by-pass 49 is provided to cut out the valve 46 and in turn is controlled by an electro-pneu matlc valve 66. In the discharge of. fill-mass H from the outlet neck 2| it frequently happens that a large mass of crystals settles out at the discharge opening preventing normal flow therefrom. "The normalgateopening as regulated by thelift oi the rod 26 is here insuflicientto start the flow. To provide for a larger opening-the flap .6l, as shown in Figure 3, is suspended from the lower edge of the gate 23in the path ofthe discharge by, a leather or other flexible hinge 62. Aflixed to flap 6| is a mercury switch 63 in the circuit of the electro-pneumatic valve '66. In its normalqorvertical position the. switch is closed energizing the electro-pneumatic valve 66 50 and holdingit in. itsopen position. Therefore, although the gate be lifted high enough to close the valve 46 ifthe flap 6| remain vertical air is still admitted to the cylinder 24 and the raising of the gate continues until the discharge of fillmass swings the flap, opening the switch 63 and permitting the electro-pneumatic valve 66 to close.

the valve "has complete control. of the raising of the gate. Astheflll-mass begins to flow the accumulated crystals clear the opening andthe thinner liquor coming through the large opening 05 tendsto fill the basket .too rapidly. To reduce the size. of'the opening to check this destructive ilow the cylinder 24 isprovided with a needle leak valve 64 allowing the piston 26 and gate control rod 26. to drop until the inside port oi 70 the leak valve is covered by the piston. By. reason of the lost motion in the springs and chains attaching the link 44 to the. rod 26 this lowering of the piston does not open'the valve 46 but only takes up the slack andspring.

When the accumulation of a-layer of crystals In generaloperation as soon as the gate 23 is lifted the flll-massbegins to flow, the flap 6Iisso swung, the electropneumatic-valve 66 closed and.

in the basket l6 reaches a thickness sufllcient'to swing the finger I 6 the switch operated by this finger is opened. This switch as shown in Figure 5 is in series with switch 33 and the solenoid 36. As the solenoid 361s deenergized the 3-way valve 36 is permitted to return under the tension of spring 31 to connect the cylinder 24 with the exhaust 55 allowing the piston 26 to drop closing the gate 23 and shutting oi! the discharge.

A coordinating switch 66 is located on the outlet neck and is operated by the'gate 23. an arm 61 on the gate 23 strikes an arm'66'on theswitch 56 as the gate descends thus closing switch 66 and starting the pilot motor 3i to increase the extractor motor speed. .It will be apparent that allowing current clock runs past a predetermined tlme-itcloses a I circuit in a coil 6|,closing the switch 62, and

passing current light 64. V v a. Figure 6 shows a safety device, for manual re--.

through the-hell. 63 and warning lease of the gate. The gate shown is a mqdlflca-W tion of that in Figures '1 and 3 in that the gate. a is carried'by a lever arm 66 which is pivoted at one end to a suitable support near the discharge opening of the outlet neck 2| the lever 66 is provided with'a hand-grip 66am! also, with'the latch :1 connecting the lever to the gatev lifting rod 26. The details at thelatch 63 are shown in Figure 7 where the lever 66 is cut away at the point where the hooked latch rod, 66 passes through it. Thehooked inner end of the latch rod 66 passes throughthe eye oi the eye-rod The ireeendpil,

2a which connects with the lifting rod 26 in the-lost 5 motion adjustment 21. The outer end of the'latch, rod 66 is bent down and g v 69 by means oi which the rod magbetturncdz to:

disengage the hook froni the, eye. and thus. trees. the gate 23. from the lii'tingrod, 26.- .The leverv handgrip 66 to close thegate;

66 may then beswungdown byimeansof the- In Fil e 4 the details-oi the lostmotion' ad justment 21 areshown. .It'consists .inahollow sleeve 16 knurled "t0 Pl'Ovide a; good hand grip.-

and having a' large -.cylin drical bore throughout:

llndricalbore for-"tire '55 the greater part Ql'iits length-and a reduced cyremaining, portion.

reduced bore is threadedto-Jeceiye the threaded end of the gate lifting rod 26 while the larger; bore is threaded at its end portion toreceive the 1 hollow stop bolt SH through which passes the eyerod 26. The inner end of. the eye-rod 2615 pro-- vided with a head I2 which, rests on the upper I end oi the stop bolt II when is raised. when the gate is closed the eye-rod" 26 moves upwards in thev sleeve 16 such movement beinglimited by the end of the. lifting rod 26 threaded down into the sleeve. In order to pick the lii'ting'rod 26 up the eye-rod and the gaterflae lii'tingrod must,

therefore, move. through thesi'reecdistance be tween the end of the liitingrodand thetopc! ,the stop bolt-which distance 18 iidjl-lstable and is varied by turning the sleeve llxtoadvance or retract it on' the threaded end 0! the lifting rod .26. This adjustment is, 76

. 45 provided with grip trifugal extractors "having ant to change the size of the discharge opening to suit the rate of flow of the fill-mass.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be madein the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modi flcations being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

10 What is claimed is:

1. An automatic charge control means for centrifugal extractors having a revolving basket, an extractor motor, and an outlet neck for discharging fill-mass into the basket, comprising a valve 1 for said outlet neck, valve-operating means for opening and closing the valve, flow regulating means electrically interconnected between said valve for discharge neck and to the valve operating means and operable'by thepressur-e of the 20 flow of fill-mass to maintain opening of the valve until flow'of fill-mass is produced, and independent -regulating means connected to the valve operating means to arrest opening of the valve when a predetermined point is reached. 25

trifugal extractors having a revolving basket, an extractor motor driving the same, and an outlet neck for dischargingfill-mass into the basket movement thereof to closed position to regulate said control for said extractor motor.

3. An automatic charge control means for cen- 40 trifugal extractors having. a revolving basket, an

extractor motor, and an outlet neck for dis-'.

' charging fill-mass into the basket, comprising a valve for said neck, operating means for the valve, feeler means within said rotating basket indi- 45 eating the thickness of acoumulatedflll-mass on the side walls'of said basket, regulating means for said extractor motor, control means for the valve operating means associated with said feeler means and with said motor regulating means 50 opening the valve at a definite extractor motor speed and'ciosing the valve-when a definite thickness of fill-mass accumulates on the walls of the extractor basket and means disposed in the path of the movement of said valve to closed position 55 to control said extractor motor regulating means.

4. An automatic charge control means for centriiugal extractors having arevolving basket, an extractor motor, an outlet neck for discharging fill-mass into the basket, comprising a valve for said discharge neck, operating means for. said zyalve, regulating means for said extractor motor,

65controlled means electrically connected with said valve and initiated on opening of said valve warn ing of prolonged open condition of the valve. A

5. An automatic charge control means for cena revolvlng basket, an

'70 extractor motor, and a I charging fill-murinto the bas et, comprising a valve for said discharge neck, operating means arresting the'opening of said valve when, a predetermined position is attained, and an opening 75 restricting means connected with the operating 2. An automatic charge control means for cen- .neck for dismeans partially reducing the valve opening'after the arrest by said control to compensate for increase in flow of fill-mass after free flow has started. I

6. An automatic charge control for centrifugal extractors having a revolving basket, an extractor motor driving the same, anda 'dischargeneck for discharging fill-mass into the basket, comprising a gate valve for said discharge neck, fluid operated means for opening and closing' said gate, a fluid supply line for said fluid operated means having a control valve for said means and having fluid admission and exhaust positions to admit fluid to or exhaust fluid from said opening and closing units, an extractor motor controller, a switch on said controller for said control valve admitting fluid tosaid opening and closing means to initiate the flow of fill mass into the basket when the extractor motor is controlled to a predetermined speed andto thereby maintain said gate valve in open position, a shut-off valve interposed in the fluid supply line operating to close said line when,a definite gate height is reached,

a flap positioned to hang across said discharge neck in the path ofthe fill-mass when said gate is open, a flap operated switch onsaid flap opened by the discharge of fill-mass, a by-pass fluid line around said shutoif valve,- an electrically cone trolled valve in said by-pass line in the circuit of said flap switch and closed by opening said flap switch, a gate control switch on the extractor in series-with said controller switch, a feeler in the extractor basket opening said switch upon accumulation of a layer of fill-mass of predetermined thickness on the walls of the extractor basket closing the control valve, stopping the admission of fluid to the gate operating means and exhausting the same allowing the'gate to close, and a coordinator switch on the discharge neck preventing advance ofthe motor controller until the gate is closed.

7. An automatic charge control means for centrifugal extractors having a revolving basket, an

'extractor motor and an outlet neck for discharging fill-mass into the basket, comprising a valve for said discharge neck, controlling means for opening and closing said valve, feeler meansin said extractor basket connected to said controlling vmeans closing the valve when a definite thickness of fill-mass accumulates on the walls of said basket, a downwardly flaring distributor plate revolving with the basket and in the path of the discharging fill-mass, a rod connecting said valve controlling means with said valve, a lost motion connector between said rod and said valve, and regulating means for said opening and closing means preventing opening of the valve with the extractor motorat high speed.

8. An automatic charge control means for centrifugal extractors having a revolving basket, an

extractor motor and an outlet neck for discharging fill-mass into the basket, comprising a gate on said neck, operating means for opening and closing the gate including an operating rod, a

neck, for discharging fill-mass into the basket,

comprising a gate valve tor said discharge; neck,

fluid operated means for opening and closing said gate, a fluid supply line havinga control valve forsaid means and having fluid admission" supply line controlled by the movement of the gate or the gate rod thcreo. operating to close said line when a definite gate height is reached, a flap positioned to hang across said discharge neck in the path of the fill-mass when said gate is open, a flap operated switch on said flap opened by the discharge of fill-mass,a by-pass fluid line around said shut-oiT valve, an electrically controlled valve in said by-pass line in the circuit of said flap switch and closed by opening said flap switch, a gate control switch on the extractor in series with said controller switch, a feeler in the extractor basket opening said switch upon accumulation of a layer of fill-mass of predetermined thickness on the walls 01' the extractor basket closing the control valve, stopping the admission of fluid to the gate operating means and exhausting the same allowing the gate to close, a coordinator switch on the discharge neck preventing advance of the motor controller until 80 the gate is closed, a second switch on the discharge neck closed as long as the gate remains open, and electrically operated time warning means connected to said second switch and initiated upon closing of said second switch to give notice if the gate remains open beyond a predetermined time.

-10. An automatic charge control means for eentriiugalextractors having a revolving-basket,

, an extractor motor, an outlet neck for discharg f 40 ingflll-mass' into the basket, comprising a gate 7 on said neck, operating means for the gate ineluding an air operated cylinder. a piston having a rod attached to the gate, an air supply and exhaust'valve for said cylinder acting to cause opening and closing of said gate and controlled by the speed of the extractor motor, a feeler in said basket to gauge the amount of fill-mass therein, a shut-off valve in the air supply line having a control arm in the path of the piston vvalve allowing a return oi the piston until it covers the port of the bleed valve.

11. An automatic charge control means for centrifugal extractors having a revolving basket,

anextractor motor and an outlet neck for discharging fill-mass into the basket, comprising a valve i or said discharge neck, operating means for said valve, regulating means for said extractor motor for shifting said extractor motor from low to high speed, and means connected with said regulating means and engageable with said valve upon movement thereof to closed position to thereby aflect said'regulating means in a manner to increase the extractor motor speed from a low charging speed to a high speed when said valve has been moved to a completely closed position.

12. An automatic charge control means for centrifugal extractors, having a revolving basket, an extractor motor, and an outlet neck for discharging fill-mass into the basketjcomprising a valve for said discharge neck, a rod connected 1 to said valve. valve operating means connected to said rod." 0. control member for said operating means. an operating member for said control member having a portion thereof projecting in the direction of said ibd,, and means carried by said rod engageable with the projecting portion of said operating member to thereby control the operation of said valve operating means.

.racoa' J. 'NEUMAN. 

